Nature of Life and Death,

English/Pali

Author: Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero,

Editor: Edwin Ariyadasa

Illustrators: P. Wickramanayake, Piyaratne Hewabatage

Editorial Advisory Board: Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thero, Ven. Dr. P. Gnanarama Maha Thero, Prof. Vinnie Vitharana

ISBN: 981-04-0191-4

First Published: 1998.12. 19

There are two major inescapable issues that dominate the totality of the sentient world. These two are, of course, life and death. Once life has occurred either in human form, or in myriads of other versions, it is fully under the sway of Death. Universally, Death is relentless - unpredictable & irrevocable. No one can stand in its way. Death does not brook any obstacle. It has no regard for quality. It is no respecter of age, sex or rank.

The Buddha is the only religious teacher of humankind who has been able to obtain a steady vision of life and death. His vision is a way to organize human life towards the realization of a high sense of spiritual awareness. The language in which He has couched His vision oflife and death is timeless. Some of His similes and metaphors have a strangely surprising modem ring to them. To stress the ephemeral and uncertain quality of human life, the Buddha makes this statement:

“The ephemeral, transient, uncertain, and vulnerable quality of human life should be thought of as the flame of a lamp in the wind.”

Contents in this book– Meditation on the Buddha, Meditation on Loving Kindness, Meditation on Impurities of the Body, Meditation on Death, The Shaft of Grief (Salla Sutta), Disillusion or Victory (Vijaya Sutta) Reflection od the loss of loved ones, Meditation on the Impermanency of life.  

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews